Border soldiers expand production, stay close to frontier areas

Under the scorching sunlight typical of the border region, the production areas of border guards stationed in Dong Nai province remain covered in a familiar shade of green, with a variety of vegetables, tubers, and fruits interspersed with livestock barns. The lush vegetable beds and healthy herds of pigs and cattle are not only the results of labor but also a testament to the self-reliance, resilience, and determination of the soldiers in green uniforms guarding the nation’s frontier land.

All made by our own hands

Stationed in Thien Hung commune, Thanh Hoa Border Guard Station is assigned to manage and protect more than 14 kilometers of border line. Not only do the border guards firmly hold their weapons to safeguard sovereignty, they also work tirelessly with hoes and shovels in hand to transform barren land into green "oases."

In a small corner of the unit’s garden, officers and soldiers have built a sturdy trellis system with gourds, squash, and luffa hanging heavily above, and short-term vegetables, such as mustard greens, water spinach, and amaranth growing below. This approach helps conserve irrigation water while maximizing production space.

Border guard officers and soldiers regularly improve the soil to maintain lush vegetable gardens. Photo: Xuan Tuc

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Quan, Political Commissar of Thanh Hoa Border Post, said that growing vegetables in the border area is not as simple as just sowing seeds. After completing daily assigned tasks, officers and soldiers devote time to production activities. Each team is assigned specific responsibilities, with personnel designated daily to water crops, tend gardens, and clean livestock pens. As a result, despite covering just over 1,000 square meters, the garden provides a relatively full range of seasonal vegetables and common produce such as gourds, pumpkins, eggplants, beans, and chili peppers.

“The unit is stationed in an area with harsh climate conditions, barren soil, and water shortages during the dry season. Therefore, during production, we proactively built water storage tanks, drilled deep wells, and regularly improved the soil by mixing organic fertilizer. Thanks to these efforts, the garden remains green year-round,” Nguyen Van Quan shared.

At Dac Bo Border Post, achieving fresh beds of beans, water spinach, lettuce, and cabbage requires not only daily watering, pest control, and weeding but also persistent soil improvement over time.

Officers and soldiers of Dac Bo Border Post tend the unit’s vegetable garden. Photo: Xuan Tuc

While weeding a vegetable bed, soldier Le Anh Tuan shared that due to limited cultivation land, years of planting can exhaust the soil. Since the unit also raises cattle, soldiers collect and compost cow manure during their free time to enrich the soil.

“I think that production activities not only improve our meals but also provide an environment for soldiers to practice patience, meticulousness, and a love for labor. After tiring patrols, the moments spent tending to the vegetable garden or caring for the pigs help me find relaxation and ease my homesickness. In addition, production activities are considered a way for us to develop life skills after we leave the army,” soldier Le Anh Tuan added.

Adequate food, strong soldiers

The fundamental goal of boosting production is to improve soldiers’ health. With good health and high morale, each soldier is better equipped to fulfill border patrol and crime prevention duties.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Luong Son, Political Commissar of Dak Bo Border Guard Station, production efforts not only enhance soldiers’ living conditions but also ensure a proactive local food supply, particularly as the unit is located far from residential centers where food supply can be difficult. In addition to growing vegetables, the unit raises chickens, cattle, and pigs to ensure fresh and high-quality food for daily meals. Currently, besides 2,000 square meters of vegetable cultivation, the unit maintains a herd of more than 30 pigs.

“Dac Bo Border Post is located in the core area of Bu Gia Map National Park, completely isolated from residential areas. By proactively boosting production, the unit has significantly reduced reliance on external supplies, helping to ensure a stable quantity and quality of meals for officers and soldiers. Moreover, production activities also generate income for the units to support officers and soldiers during holidays and Tet and to purchase facilities for cultural, artistic, and sports activities,” Lieutenant Colonel Luong Son added.

The production models at border guard stations are systematically and scientifically invested with sturdy greenhouse systems that also serve as training grounds for perseverance and meticulousness. Photo: Xuan Tuc

The outcomes of production activities extend beyond internal use and carry profound humanitarian value for border communities. At Thanh Hoa Border Guard Station, these production models serve as “practical learning sites” for local residents, particularly ethnic minority communities, to learn effective cultivation and livestock techniques.

Lush vegetable gardens not only improve meal quality for officers and soldiers but also provide practical models for border residents to learn from. Photo: Xuan Tuc

Nguyen Thanh Cu, Head of Hamlet 3 in Thien Hung commune, said that the hamlet has 512 households with more than 1,900 residents, including many ethnic minority families whose livelihoods depend primarily on agriculture. Currently, thanks to technical guidance and livestock breeds from officers and soldiers of Thanh Hoa Border Guard Station, local people’s livelihoods have steadily improved. Residents of Hamlet 3 always comply with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s laws and coordinate with border guards to protect borderlines and markers and maintain security in the border area.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Quan, Political Commissar of Thanh Hoa Border Guard Station, production activities are closely linked with fostering thrift, work ethic, and discipline among officers and soldiers. Through productive labor, soldiers gain a deeper understanding of and attachment to the frontier land, share hardships with local residents, and strengthen their determination to safeguard every sacred inch of national territory.

The cultivation and livestock models not only hold economic value but also serve as convincing, practical examples encouraging local residents to adopt similar models. As living standards in border areas improve, the people’s trust and solidarity are further reinforced, contributing to the firm protection of national sovereignty.

Lieutenant Colonel NGUYEN VAN QUAN, Political Commissar Thanh Hoa Border Post,
Dong Nai Provincial Border Guard Command

By Xuan Tuc – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha